I think I speak for the whole world when I say Good Riddance to 2020! What a year. I recently looked back at my first post of 2020, where I recapped all of the things we did in January – black tie events, going to the zoo, school performances, visits with people in our house! Looking at those pictures now – groups of kids smooshed together singing, no masks, hugging people – it’s unbelievable where we are today. While I welcome 2021 with open arms, we’re still a ways away from any type of “normal.” I don’t anticipate my office opening again until the summer or even fall. The kids likely won’t go back to school for a full day this entire school year. At this point I’m hoping that Sophie can start middle school in person. Will we ever go out in public without masks again? Who knows.

Here’s what I do know. 2020 was rough, but it was also life changing, in both good and bad ways. Dave’s travel stopped completely in March and we’ve spent the longest time together as a family ever. He’s been home for dinners, to read to the girls every night, and to tuck them in every night for the first time in their lives. We all learned to work in the same space, getting schoolwork and work work accomplished. We got closer as a family. We also got on each other nerves and learned that we all need space too. We got outside a lot and got to know our neighborhood and neighbors better than before COVID. We discovered the activities that work virtually and those that don’t – and look forward to going back to in person choir, ballet, and piano again. Without commutes we’ve all been sleeping more and Dave and I have been exercising more. Which is good, because we’re also cooking, baking, and eating more too. Fortunately another perk has been having Dave home to cook too. Of all the things I miss, and there are a lot, eating out hasn’t been at the top of the list because we eat so well here. Having a great bartender make me the perfect martini? That’s another story.

One of the best things that happened this year is the election of Joe Biden. Trump’s absolute and total mismanagement of this pandemic is what I believe pushed Biden over the top. It’s been an especially shocking and eye-opening few weeks since the election and I’m looking forward to January 20th, when we’ll finally have new leadership, and what I yearn and hope for a better next few years. 2020 was one of the most emotionally draining years I’ve ever experienced.

To wrap up the year, on New Year’s Eve day we decided to get out, even though the weather was terrible – 40 degrees and raining – and go ice skating. We went down to Penns Landing, where the rink was virtually empty due to the weather and pandemic combo. Dave took the girls out and I sat along the side and watched.

Our New Year’s Eve, like all other celebrations this year, very low key. It was just the four of us and we tried to make it as fun as possible. Some games, some karaoke, Zoom countdowns with various friends and family, and a slumber party in the living room. The kids stayed up until Midnight and quickly crashed afterward.

We held off on our traditional New Year’s Day hike until January 2nd because it poured all day on the 1st, which was just as well because all we wanted to do was stay in our PJs and watch movies anyway.

But on the 2nd we headed to Wissahickon and did a 3 mile hike, up to the Native American statue. It was gorgeous and refreshing and just what we needed to get ourselves in gear for the coming year, whatever it may bring.